One of the pleasures of having a granddaughter is having to sit and watch CBeebies with her. It’s not that we encourage too much television watching but rather I don’t have the energy to entertain her for a whole day. We have fallen into a routine of an hour in the morning before we go … Continue reading Phil loves books
Over-zealousness
COVID-19 has brought out the best and worst of us. As we are making our way back onto the shops it is interesting to see the different ways that they are attempting to keep their customers safe. It seems that we have fallen into three groups. The majority of us are going with the flow, … Continue reading Over-zealousness
Babe in the city
Last Tuesday saw me venture back into Newcastle for the first time in a long while. It was my first attempt at getting back to a more normal way of working. I don’t want to go permanently back to an office, not that I have had one in a long while, but I do miss … Continue reading Babe in the city
Goodbye COVID hair
In my list of twenty things I yearned for during the pandemic, published at the end of April, a haircut didn’t make the cut (no pun intended). At that point we had only been in lockdown for five or six weeks and my locks were still manageable. Not now, one hundred days on my hair … Continue reading Goodbye COVID hair
Genetic disposition to housework
I don’t mind ironing, not that I do it that often. I find it quite therapeutic in that I put on the radio and slowly work through the pile that has collected. My wife loathes it however and complains that I am not quick enough. For her it’s the devils work and has to be … Continue reading Genetic disposition to housework
Working in space
A few days ago I put some bird spikes on the aerial at the back of the house. I felt a bit guilty as the starlings had just fledged and it seemed to be a favourite spot of theirs but the mess below was too much to put up with. Our middle-class sensibilities have been … Continue reading Working in space
The first trillionaire
Jeff Bezos, the brains behind Amazon, is set to become the first trillionaire. Even the pandemic hasn’t dented his good fortune, indeed the company is so busy now that his wealth keeps growing. Some may say that this is capitalism working its magic yet I feel it is both sad and plain wrong. It is … Continue reading The first trillionaire
The logical conclusion
There is a fundamental difference between computing technology and us humans, at least for a while. One is based upon logic and we are not. Never confuse humans with logic, we are simply not geared up, however well we may think we may be, to make logical decisions. There are too many hormones and emotions … Continue reading The logical conclusion
Something to talk about
We are living through strange times. When lock down was first introduced I thought it may last a few weeks. Ever the optimist I should have realized that reality would be different. In those countries most badly affected lock down has lasted much longer and the Chancellor’s commitment to support furlough until the end of … Continue reading Something to talk about
The Road to Wooden Gate Junction
If I ever get around to writing my auto-biography, not that anyone would be interested in my life, ‘The Road to Wooden Gate Junction’ would be a great title. It sounds exotic, it tells of a journey to unknown places and it leaves the reader enthralled at the prospect of going there with me. Until … Continue reading The Road to Wooden Gate Junction
Thoughts from a Guerrilla Worker 